Wonders of China & the Grand Yangtze(upstream)

Day 1: ARRIVE IN SHANGHAI(-, -, SD)

Upon your arrival in Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city, our tour guide will meet you at the customs exit of Shanghai airport holding a welcome sign board with your name on it. The guide will assist your transfer to the hotel and help you check in. After a short rest in hotel, you’ll travel by road to Zhujiajao (50 minutes drive from Shanghai), a well-preserved, traditional river town with lovely water views, ancient arched stone bridges and elegant gardens. At Zhujiajiao, you will walk through Fangsheng Bridge, Beida Street, and the Xi Family Residence. You will feel as though you have stepped back in time. In the evening you will sample the traditional Dim-sum Banquet, and then you will enjoy a wonderful Acrobatic Show.

Day 2: SHANGHAI (AB, L, D)

This morning you’ll recall Shanghai’s past as you visit the Bund, the city’s lively waterfront, and see the remains of the banks and other colonial institutions of the 19th century. You’ll visit Yuyuan Garden in the old part of the city and the Jade Buddha Temple with its fine collection of carved jade statues. In the afternoon you’ll visit the fascinating Shanghai Museum to see artifacts from every period of China’s past and the Oriental Pearl Tower for a spectacular 360-degree view of Shanghai.

	Yangtze River Cruise

Day 3: SHANGHAI / YICHANG  (AB, L, -)

Enjoy your free morning for leisure before taking a transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival in Yichang, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the pier to embark on the Cruise ship. Spend the night on the cruise.

Day 4:YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / THREE GORGES DAM (AB, L, D)

In the early morning you’ll set sail on the Yangtze, the third longest river in the world, bound for the magnificent, wild scenery of the Three Gorges (Xiling, Wu and Qutang Gorges). Later today you’ll visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

Day 5: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / SHENNONG STREAM (AB, L, D)

This morning you’ll sail through miles of stunning gorges. At noon you’ll arrive at Badong where you’ll disembark for a magical excursion down the Shennong Stream. Local trackers will pull us in wooden sampans through awesome gorges and lush pine forests. Along the way you’ll see the remnants of ancient roads and pass cliff-top grottos that held the coffins of warriors. You’ll see translucent pools, aquatic caves and rainbow fountains. If you are lucky, you’ll glimpse rare animals, such as the golden-haired monkey. Afterwards continue cruising the Yangtze River.

Day 6: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / SHIBAOZHAI   (AB, L, D)

You’ll take a short break from the fabulous natural scenery to visit the most spectacular manmade site along the river, Shibaozhai, the Stone Treasure Fortress. You’ll disembark to explore this 12-story red, wooden pagoda that stands against a sheer rock wall.

Day 7: CHONGQING / GUILIN (AB, L, D)

In the morning your boat will arrive at Chongqing. You’ll disembark the cruise ship after breakfast and transfer to Chongqing Airport for the flight to Guilin, famous for its picturesque limestone peaks and rivers. Upon your arrival, take a tour of Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of the city and the Reed Flute Cave, a fairyland of limestone and known as the "Art Gallery of Nature." 

Day 8: GUILIN (AB, L, D)

Today you will take a relaxing cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo. Depart from your hotel in the morning. Be transferred to the Zhujiang Pier for a 4 hours wonderful cruise. Enjoy the picturesque mountains, peaceful green fields ,farms and villages with water buffalos, cows wondering around on both sides of the river bank. Disembark at the one-thousand-year-old town Yangshuo in the afternoon and explore the local market lined with stalls and souvenir shops selling traditional ornaments and paintings of landscapes. The street is also featured with various bars and cafes which attract tourists from every corner of the world. Transfer back to Guilin City.
Optional program: countryside tour by Sightseeing Electric Car. You will visit plantings fileds, market and the beautiful villages and a local villager's home to experience the farmer's lifestyle.

	Terra-Cotta Warriors

Day 9: GUILIN / XI’AN (AB, L, SD)

This morning take a flight to Xi’an, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Upon arrival in Xi'an airport, you will be met and transported to hotel. You’ll begin the visit with a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. You’ll stroll through Xi'an’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial Museum of History where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans. Tonight you will be served a delicious dumpling dinner banquet.
Optional program: Enjoy the on-stage performance of Tang Dynasty dance and music in the evening.

Day 10: XI’AN (AB, L, -)

Today you’ll visit what for many is the high point of their trip to China - the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. You will then take a tour of the well-preserved ancient City Wall and the Bell Tower, the emblem of Xi'an City.  The remainder of the day will be left free for your leisure.

Day 11: XI’AN / BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

This morning you’ll take a flight to Beijing, China's historic and cultural capital. Upon arrival, you will be met and transfer to hotel. Afterwards you will visit the Temple of Heaven, one of China’s most photographed attractions. This ornate wooden structure was where the “Sons of Heaven”, as the Chinese Emperors were known, worshipped the gods and prayed for good harvests. It is the largest temple complex in China and the lovely park surrounding the ancient tower is a popular spot for morning Tai Chi. After that you’ll forget about the skyscrapers and construction cranes of modern Beijing as you venture into Hutong, where the atmosphere of Old Peking lives on. You’ll bicycle or ride rickshaws down narrow lanes and alleyways, past vegetable markets, traditional medicine shops and wooden teahouses. Tonight's special dinner will be Beijing Duck, served at an original century-old restaurant.
Optional program: A lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre .

	Forbidden City

Day 12: BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

The excursion today includes a visit to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space on earth and the Forbidden City. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasty for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You’ll stroll along cobblestone paths once known only to the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. Following lunch there will be a tour of the Summer Palace, a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. There you can visit Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake and take a leisurely walk down the Long Corridor. Tonight you’ll sample the delicious local cuisine at a neighborhood restaurant.

Day 13: BEIJING (AB, L, SD)

This morning you will leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see the Great Wall in Badaling where you will experience at first hand one of the Wonders of the World. There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. Compared with the other normal tours having lunch at the shopping site restaurant, we specially arrange your lunch to be served at a local popular Sichuan food restaurant. Later the journey will take you to the Ming Tomb in the peaceful shadow of Longevity Mountain, where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” passing between pairs of huge stone sculptures. We arrange a special a la carte dinner at a famous restaurant in the Wangfujing area, so bring you a good appetite.

Day 14:Depart from BEIJING (AB)

You will be free on this day until the time for your personal guide to escort you to the airport for your flight home.

Itinerary: AB: American Breakfast  L: Lunch   D: Dinner   SD: Special Dinner